For the first time in 17 years, the International Cricket Council has opened the creaky doors to its exclusive club of Test cricket.

The last time it did was in 2000 and Bangladesh was accorded elite status that gave it the right to play with the big boys of the sport. At the time, Bangladesh’s elevation came as a surprise as the experts considered the move premature and they were right as it took the nation several years to prove it belonged. But Bangladesh made rapid progress in every version of the game except in red-ball cricket. That did not come as a surprise as the first-class game was only introduced in Bangladesh in 1999, a year before promotion.

Now the spotlight shines on Afghanistan and Ireland — the two newest members of the ICC Test cabal. And it is almost certain they will face the same uphill struggles as Bangladesh to establish themselves as Test-quality material. But the Irish gave a good account of themselves in their historic first Test in Malahide against visiting Pakistan on Tuesday.

The rise to the top ranks of the sport by both Ireland and Afghanistan is nothing short of fascinating. Afghanistan’s ascent continues to confound the world as war has raged that country. But cricket has flourished in the hostile environment as passionate players — most of whom who learned the game in camps across the country in Pakistan — have returned home.

While it has earned Test status Afghanistan, like Pakistan, will have to fulfill its international competitions outside its borders. Pakistan calls the United Arab Republic home while Greater Noida, a town just outside New Delhi, has been used as Afghanistan’s home base. In Ireland the Gaelic Athletic Association prohibited the playing or watching of “foreign” sports and that meant cricket was barred in the country for some seven decades until the ban was lifted in 1971. But, in 1969, the Gaelic association briefly lifted the sanction to allow the visiting West Indies team that was playing a Test series in England to make a stopover in Sion Mills to take on a ragtag Irish squad.

The Irish were in awe of Clive Lloyd’s world beaters but few will ever forget what transpired that day that’s gone down in Irish folklore as the Miracle of Sion Mills. Unbelievably, West Indies was routed for 25! That was Ireland’s glorious start to the international game. Wicketkeeper Ossie Colhoun, now 79, remembers the day well.

“The West Indies arrived in a bus and went in to our pavilion, which was tiny, with one toilet and no showers,” Calhoun told the BBC. Calhoun was a fitter at a local mill whose employees were given the day off to watch the match.

“The two captains went to the wicket and agreed that whoever won the toss the West Indies should bat. Everyone thought the Windies would get three or four hundred for six and bowl Ireland out for about 30.”

Ireland made 125 for eight. Ireland’s progress since has been the stuff of fairytales. Who will ever forget the country’s first-ever World Cup in 2007 in Jamaica when it stunned Pakistan at Kingston’s Sabina Park on St. Patrick’s Day as well. Niall O’Brien, elder brother of Kevin, smashed 72 to help the Irish overtake Pakistan’s 132. It was indeed a bigger shock than one expected as the squad of part-timers contained school teachers, farmers and postmen with only three or four professional cricketers.

“It was a class moment, an iconic moment, and it’s kind of set us up for where we are today,’’ said Kevin O’Brien who made history on Sunday by becoming the first Irishman to score a century in Ireland’s first Test.

The Irish sprung another at the 2011 World Cup in Bangalore when Kevin O’Brien tore into England and sent shockwaves around the world. England had posted a massive 327 for eight, but O’Brien butchered the England attack by scoring 113 off 63 balls as the Irish reached 329 for seven to pull off the highest run-chase in World Cup history. O’Brien also made history by getting to three figures off 50 balls — the quickest century in the tournament’s history.

Ireland also made a favourable start as a Test nation although it went down by five wickets on Tuesday. Ireland gave Pakistan a minor fright as it slumped to 14 for three after being set a modest 160 to win. But the 22-year-old Iman-ul-Haq, nephew of former Test batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq and now chief selector, starred for the visitors by scoring 74 not out as Pakistan reached its target just as rain clouds began to darken and the prospect of a draw loomed.

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